Apparatus for locating and attaching cables to sunken vessels



June 8,1926. 1,581,514

J. R. DUNCAN APPARATUS FOR LOCATING AND ATTACHING CABLES TO 'SUNKEN VESSELS Filed Feb. 21 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 8 1926.

' J. R. DUNCAN APPRATUS FOR LOCATING AND ATTACHING CABLES TO SUNKEN VESSELS Filed Feb. 2l 1925 INVENTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lil j June 8,1926. 1,581,514

r .1. R. DUNCAN APPARATUS FOR LOCATING AND ATTACHING CABLES TO SUNKEN VESSELS .im As 192s. .1.587,514

` J. R. DUNCAN APPARATUS FOR LOCATING AND TTAGHING CABLES T0 SUNKEN VESSELS Filed Feb. 21, 192 4 sheets-sheet 4` @Ji/HFNESSES:

Patented June 8, 1926.

JOHN TBI. DUNCAN, 0F ARDMORE, EENNSYLVANIA.

.APPARATUS FOR LOCATING AND ATTACHING CABLES T0 SUNKEN VESSELS.-

Applicationfuea February 21, 1925. serial No. 10,945.

My invention relates to apparatus for marking the location of sunken vessels and for anchoring hoisting or towing cables thereto.

The objects are to provide apparatus which, in case a vessel sinks, will serve to mark the place where it sunk, and to which hoisting or towing cables from salvaging vessels may be anchored whereby the sunk en vessel may be raised and reclaimed.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will `be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which l f Y :Figure 1 is a central vertical section through apparatus embodying my invention illustrating it as secured to the deck of a ship,A

Figure 2 a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Y Figure3 a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating the parts in another position.

Figure 4 a fragmentary enlarged section on line 4--4 of Figure 3, Y

Figure 5a central section through amodified form of apparatus adapted for use with a submarine,

Figure 6 a section on line 6%6 of Fig' ure 5,

Figure 7 a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating the parts in anotherposition, and

Figure 8 a front outside view of the parts shown in Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1-4 of the drawi ings, 1 indicates the deck of a ship; 2 a cable-anchoring member having a fixed loop 3; 4 a float mounted on the member `over the loop and detachably fastened thereto by suitable wedging levers 5; 6 a cable, hereinafter called a float cable, connected to the lower end vof the iioat and passing downwardly through the loop, then under a pulley 7 and onto a reel 8 rotatable on member 2; 9 a spool support secured to the deck; 10 a spool rotatable in the support; 11 a spindle on the spool; 12 a spindle section adapted to interlock with spindle 11 as shown at 13; 14 a cable, hereinafter called a loop cable, wound around section 12 and spindle 11 therebyy holding them interlocked and having one end fastened to section 12 at 15 and the other end fastened to the side of the float 4 at 16; 17 a rod rotatably connected with spindle section 12 at 18; 19 a standard secured to the deck and having a spring clip 2O for holding rod 17; and 21 a loop embracing float cable 6, hinged to rod 17 at 22 and held under loopv3 by a spring clip 23 on member 2.

In ycase of danger of sinking, the person assigned to release float 4 from the anchoring member 2, may do so byy swinging wedge ing levers 5 out of holding engagement with float 4.A As the ship sinks, iioat 4 will remainon or near the surface of the water. Float cable 6, will unwind from reel 8 and pass through loop 3. Loop cable 14, fastened to the side of float 4, will be unwound from spool 10. Cables 6 and 14, being longer than the depth to which the ship sinks, allow float 4 to remain on the surface of the water after the ship hassunk. The oat will thus serve to mark the location of the sunken ship. Y

To anchor a towing or hoisting cable to the sunken ship, the towing cable is fastened to float cable 6 which is then disconnected from the lower` end of the float. Loop cable 14, connected to the side of float 4, is then pulled up until it is unwound from spindle v11 and spindle section 12. 'A further pullingl of cable 14 will disconnect section 12, having the end of cable 14 fastenedthereto, from spindle `11, lift rod 17 out of I spring clip 20, and slip loop 21e-out of spring clip 23. Float cable 6, being within loop l21, will be pulled through loop 3 of the cable anchoring member 2, as shown inFigure 3. A continued upward pulling of loop cable 14 and loop 21, will cause float cable G to pull the vtowing or hoisting cable downward through loop 3,and up to the surface of the water, after which the hoisting cable may be fastened for towing or hoisting purposes.

Referring to Figures 5-8, 24 indicates the deck of a submarine having an opening 25; 26 afloat resting on the deck and having a lug 27 dependinginto the opening; 28 a casing secured to the deck within the submarine and 'sealed to be water tight; 29 a locking wedge slidable in casing 28 and adapted to pass through lug 27 to lock float 26 to the deck 24; 30 a screw in the casing for moving the wedge into and out of holding position; 31 a gate 'slidable in the casing and having a jaw 32 lined with rubber or other resilient material which when pressed around a towing or hoisting cable 33 will YSB make a water tight seal; 34 a screw in the casing for moving the gate; `35 a jaw similar to jaw 32, secured in the casing; 36 a reel rotatable in the casing; 37 a cable connected to lug 27 and wound around and tastened to the reel; 38 a crank connected with the reel for winding .cable 37 thereon; 39a door for closing and sealing an entrance 40 to casing 28; and 41a spigot for allowing the water within casing 28 to run out for the purpose of attaching the'towing cable within the casing.

If `for any-reason,.the-submarine 'fails to rise, .its location may be indicated by releasing fioat 26. This is done by firstturning screw 30 to move wedge 29 out ot'V lug 27. .Reel 36 is then turned by manipulating crank 38 vtounwindcable 37 and -allow float 26 to rise to the surface of the water. The location of' the submarine-is thus .easily determined by float 26.

To connect the towing or hoisting cable 33 tothe submarine, the .cable-is fastened to float cable 37 which isthen disconnected fronrlug26 of the float. Reel 36 isthen turned by manipulating 'crank 38 to wind float cable 37 and pull the towing or hoisting cable33Y through-opening 2.5 intothe casing. Gate 31 isv then-closed by turning screw 34 so that the rubber lined jaw 32 on the gate andfjaw 351 onthecasing will embrace cable 33 1and forma water tight seal as shown in'Figure 7. The water-in casing 28, under thegate 31, isthen allowed to run out by opening spigot 41. 'Door 39-is then opened byturning the locking-bar42 into registry 'with the notches-43 in the casing and swingingthe door open. The connecting end of the towing cable 33l may be pro- Y vided withean eye 44 which is connected by :a pin 45 to a .pair of lugs 46 vsecured to vcasing 28. Door 39 is then closed and locked by bar '42 and gate 31 is ope-ned byy vturning screw 34. The submarine may then be raised or towed toshallow waterby t-he cable 33.

It will be-seen that with theapparatus .above described sunken vessels may be easily located and towing or hoisting cables'connected thereto andthe vessels raised fromv .any depth without requiring diversfand special diving apparatus.

AWhile .I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that thevariousl Vparts may be changed without departing. from the spirit thereof, and-hence I do not limit myself4 tothe precise construction set fortlnbut consider that I fam at liberty to 'make Vsuch changes and alterations as .fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

'Having thus .described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent `is z 1. Apparatus ofthev characterdescribed including a .cableanchoring membenfixed to the vessel and having stationary means thereon; a reel rotatable in the anchoring member; a cable wound on the reel and movable through said stationary means; a float connected with said cable; means movably embracing said cable between said stationary means andthe reel; and means connected with said cable means and-oat.

2. Apparatusfot the character described including a cable anchoring` member fixed to the vessel and having a fixed loop; a reel rotatable in the anchoring member; a cable f ber detachably connected with the spool and carrying a loop .embracing the cable below the fixed loop, and a second cable connected with the float, wound upon the spool7 secured yto the Adetachable 'ln-ember, and normally holding said member in engagement with the spool but adapted, when unwound, to releaseV it fromV the spool.

l4. Apparatus'for vessels of the character described including a cable anchoring member fixed to the vessel and having a fixed loop; a reel rotatable in the anchoring member; a cable fixed to and wound on the rcel and taking through' the fixed loop; a float connected with the cable; a spool mounted onthe vessel; a second cable connected with the float and-wound on the spool; a movableloop embracing the first mentioned cable; a rod hinged to the loop, and means on the end of the second mentioned cable rotatably connected with the rod.

5. Apparatus for yvessels of the character described including` a kcable anchoring member fixed to the vessel and havingl a fixed loop ;"a reel rotatable in the anchoring member; a cabler fixed to and wound on the reel yand'talring through the fixed loop; a tloat connected with the cable; a spool mounted :spindle section connected to the end of the second mentioned cable and rotatably connected with the rod.

6. Apparatus for vessels ot the character .described including a cable anchoring member fixed to the vessel and having a fixed loop; a reel rotatable in the anchoring member; yaeable vvtixed to and wound on the reel and taking through the liXed loop; a float connected with the cable; a spool mounted on the vessel; a second cable connected with the float and Wound on the spool; a movable loop embracing the lirst mentioned cable; a rod hinged to the loop; resilient means on the anchoring member for holdingT the loop;

resilient means on the yvessel for holding the rod, and means on the end of the last mentioned cable rotatably connected with the 10 rod.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

JOHN R. DUNCAN. 

